lawyers and litigants alike breathed a sigh of relief following transfer of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum President NK Pattnaik on Thursday.
Since last two years, lawyers and litigants had been complaining harassment by the forum president along with the State authorities. They alleged inordinate delay in disposal of cases, irregular attending of the forum by the president during office hours and his misbehaver with the co-members and lawyers.
This apart, a large number of cases were pending while litigants were harassed. The lawyers and litigants had sought removal of Pattnaik. Following a large number of complaints, Justice RN Biswal the State Commissioner of the forums inspected the Puri unit and found the allegations were substantial. Many senior lawyers, including Nrusingha Charan Mohanty and Manoj Das deposed before the commission against the forum president and litigants too similarly testified before the commission. The Government transferred Pattnaik to Angul.